Richard Justice of the Houston Chroniclewrites that Lance Berkman “believed he would return to the Astros in 2011 … from the moment he was traded to the Yankees last July.” However, when his agent approached general manager Ed Wade about potentially returning to Houston he was told “thanks, but no thanks.”

“It wasn’t a long conversation,” Berkman told Justice. “After initially being pretty disappointed, I’ve gotten over it. Now my focus is on who is going to contend that wants me to play for them.”

Most players let their agent do the dirty work when it comes to talking publicly about the offers they’re receiving on the open market, but Berkman cut out the middle man and told Justice that he’s had interest from the Cardinals, Cubs, Rockies, A’s, Pirates, and Blue Jays. However, according to Berkman most teams are merely in the “tire-kicking” stage right now and he’s yet to receive any concrete offers “in terms of X amount of dollars.”

Berkman is 35 years old and coming off the worst season of his career, struggling for the Yankees following a mid-season trade and finishing with a sub-.800 OPS for the first time, but he maintained good on-base skills and could resume being a very dangerous hitter if his power returns even a little bit.

Tampa Bay makes so much sense on a one-year deal loaded with incentives.

They need to cut salary and they’re likely in need of both a DH and a 1B…could this situation make any more sense?!

The Rays could logically sign Berkman and someone like Manny at low-dollars and lose very little offense–assuming Desmond Jennings is ready to step-in atop the lineup and Ben Zobrist rebounds–despite cutting salary for next year.